Established in 2008, Ampersand has presented exhibitions of contemporary artworks alongside a curated selection of anonymous found photography, printed ephemera and works on paper by unknown or outsider artists. Committed to cultural preservation and the promotion of work by artists, the gallery has served as a platform for dialogue between contemporary artworks and the printed matter that informs, inspires and in some cases serves as raw material in the creative process. This dialogue is further expanded by our tightly edited book inventory, consisting of both new and rare titles, with particular emphasis on art, design and photography. Our publishing imprint, Ampersand Editions, serves as a corollary to exhibitions, providing a printed medium for artists to expand upon ideas and to extend their artistic vision beyond gallery walls.

Ampersand is currently open for online business only. As of February, 2022, our storefront location on Alberta Street in NE Portland closed as we explore new creative projects and reassess how Ampersand might exist as a public space in the near future. Perhaps that will be a new gallery location here in Portland or elsewhere. Or it might be a residency program of some kind where artists can align themselves with nature and focus on making work in solitude. In the meantime, we will continue to collaborate with artists by offering new artworks via our online exhibition and interview series. We will also continue to offer books and materials from our visual archive through our website and Instagram feed. Be sure to follow us there for updates.